Date:10/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/10/stories/2008041052530400.htm

New Delhi

Rural Delhi may get cricket academy

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sharad Pawar has told a delegation of farmers that to promote cricket in the rural belts of Delhi, that has produced a number of international cricketers like Virendra Sehwag and Ishant Sharma, the Board is working on opening a cricket academy in the area.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Naresh Kumar, who had led the delegation, said that on being urged to open a cricket academy in Delhi “dehat”, Mr. Pawar said he would take up the matter soon.

According to Dr. Kumar, Mr. Pawar told the delegation that such an academy should have an equal financial participation of BCCI and the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association.

He also said that the Board would approve of the matter as soon as a proposal in this regard comes from DDCA.

The delegation had also demanded that the Board recommend the name of Virendra Sehwag for Padma Bhushan as he was the only player from the country and only the third in the world after Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara to have scored two triple centuries in Test cricket.